Link mat



March 11, 1930. J. H. CALDWELL LINK MAT Filed May 51, 1928 [III] Vl @ifalf: f5

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES JOHN H. CALDWELL, F TWIN FALLS, IDAHO LINK MAT Application led May 31,

This invention relates to link mats of the familiar or well known type, comprising a frame of spaced parallel bars or rods hingedly connected by links or body members of leath- 6 er, rubber, laminated fabric or other material arranged in checkered fashion upon the rods and in such manner as to permit the assembled or completed mat to be rolled or folded upon itself.

In the construction of mats of this character heretofore, inconvenience and annoyance has occured by reason of the exposed ends of the rods; this exposed metal offering opportunity for injury to the shoes or wearing ap parel of persons comingin contact therewith and also causing furniture, walls and other surfaces to become damaged or injured by being brought in contact therewith. Y

It is the primary object ofthis invention to construct a link mat in such manner as to4 overcome the annoyance and inconvenience as above pointed out and 1n such manner that the mat will present no exposed or protruding metal parts to cause the trouble and damage.

mentioned. i

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a mat of the character. generally stated which'will be of more pleasing appearance by enclosing or housing the ends of the metallic rods.

A further object `of the invention is to obviate the necessity for the commonly used and securing means heretofore employed, as well as to simplify the manufacture of the mat.

Avstill further object is to provide a link mat wherein the end links of fabric, rubber, leather or like material constitute a protector or enclosure for `portions of the frame as Well as 'a fastener for spaced rods constituting a part of thev frame-work.

f Still further objects reside in the particular construction of end links for the mat as well as their manner ofassemblage with the frame end of the links.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, .the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement ofvparts, all as will be described more fullyf 1928. Serial No. 281,791.

hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, andV particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of a mat constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the end links,

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken through one of the body links,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of applying an end link to a closed end of a U-shaped frame member,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the manner of applying an end link to the open end of a similar frame member,

Fig. Gis a longitudinal sectional view taken through a modified form of end link,

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a further modi-V fied form of end link,

' Fig. 8 is a similar view showing a still further modification of end link, and

Fig. 9 is a similar view of still a furtheri modification of end link.

- In the construction of link mats of this general character, the frame of the mat comprises spaced parallel bars or rods hingedly connected to one another by links arranged in staggered relation and formed of leather, rubber, laminated fabric or composition material. My invention is applicable to mats of this character, and in the present illustrationV the rods are indicated at 10 and the main links or body members are represented at 11. I have found that the construction of the mat is improved and its strength is insured by forming the rods of predetermined lengths of relatively heavy gauge strands bent into U-shapeas shown so that the arm portions of said strands are disposed parallel tov each other and connected at one end by a bight 905 portion 12. It will be understood, however, that Vthe invention is equally applicable to mats of that type wherein separate-and distinct rods are employed.

l The end links for the mat are similar in 95" length and height, and may be similar in breadth or thickness with the main body membersof links yl1, the said end linksV being represented generally at 13.V These end links are each provided withfan opening coi 14C disposed longitudinally therein, which opening terminates inwardly from the ends or opening 15 of the member. The said end links are also provided, from the side near the end, with laterally disposed openings 15, disposed inwardly from the side and near the end of the link and transversely thereof. These lateral openings intersect or communicate with the longitudinal opening 14 in the link so as to constitute a continuation thereof. The openings 15 will be disposed a distance apart equal to the distance between the spaced parallel rods 10.

The main body members or links 11 may be of the usual well known construction, having lateral openings 16 passing therethrough near the ends of the links and a distance apart equal to the dist-ance between the several rods of the frame.

In constructing the mat, each of the U- shaped frame members has iii-st applied thereto an end member 13, the application of the member being made by deflecting the ends of the link so that an end of one of the strands or bars may be inserted longitudinally through the link in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The link is then slid to the bight portion of the frame member and is passed upon said portion until it assumes natural position thereon as disclosed in Fig. 1. The said bight portion of the member is thus wholly enclosed by the link and no metal protrudes. After the several U-shaped frame members have their bight portions thus provided with end links, the several U-shaped members are connected together by the main body links in staggered relation in the manner shown and as is well known. Vhen the mat has been built up to approximately the ends of the rods, the free ends of the arms of each rod are bent inwardly toward each other as indicated at 17. Then thus bent, the extremities of the rods may touch each other or may be spaced apart as preferred, and end links are applied to these inturned ends of the rods of each pair in the manner substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This application is made by deiiecting the extremities of the end members until the hooked or inturned ends of the rods are inserted in the openings, whereupon they will assume normal straight position. With the end members thus applied, it will be seen that no protrudingr metal portions will be )resent in the mat, and the objections set forth in the preamble are overcome.

The end links may be constructed in any one of several different ways to accomplish the desired result. In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the link is illustrated as a laminated structure. The outer layer 18 is a continuous piece, while the next adjacent layer 19 is channeled so as to provide the opening 14 terminating near the ends of the said layer. The layers 2.0 and 21 are provided with transverse openings registering with each other to provide the lateral openings 15, which communicate at their inner ends with the extremities of the longitudinal opening 14. The laminae thus formed may be secured together by cementing, stitching, vulcanizing or any other manner so as to form a composite unit.

rlhe end link shown in Fig. 6 comprises a body 13 having the longitudinal opening 11i drilled or formed entirely therethrough, which opening is intersected near its ends by lateral openings 15 extending into the member. After the openings are thus formed, suoli portions thereof as do not receive the metal strand may be plugged or sealed in any preferred in anner.

riChe end link shown in Fig. 7 is substantially similar to that as shown in Fig. 6, except that the said unit is provided with axially aligned longitudinal openings 14: extending in from the ends of the unit and not communicating with each other. Such a unit would be employed to connect the inturned ends of a U-shaped member where the said ends are spaced apart.

Fig 8 shows a further modification where the openings 14 and 15 are made at one and the same operation. This may be accomplished by deflecting the ends of the member slightly prior to the drilling or puncturing operation, and after the latter is completed and the ends released, the opening as shown in Fig. 8 will have been formed.

In the formvshown in Fig. 9, which is for a purpose similar to the end link disclosed in Fig. 7, the openings 14.--15 are formed in laminated material before the several layers are assembled, thus producing the shape and length of opening as discloset Frein the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a mat structure fully capable of accomplishing the several advantages set forth, and while the foregoing is a description of the invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that changes or variations in the minor details of construction and assemblage of parts may be resorted to without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a mat structure, a frame comprising a plurality of parallel rods, each pair of rods formed of a singlerstrand bent to substantially U-shape with its free ends bent inwardly toward each other, body members connecting the several rods and hingedly connecting the adjacent rods of the several pairs, end members having longitudinally disposed bores wholly within the same to enclose the bight portions of said pairsv of rods and the bent ends thereof, and said end members having lateral openings near their ends communicating with said bores and through which the adjacent portions of said rods pass; said end members being of flexible material and of the signature.

JOHN H. CALDWELL. 

